My radio interview with Tommy Schnurmacher on CJAD radio about Islamic Regime's involvement in Gaza and what the international community needs to do to stop the Islamic Regime in Iran the threat that it poses worldwide:

My article published in theToronto Star discussing Islamic Regime's involvement in the current Gaza Conflict and Iran's support for Hamas and its proxy war against Israel.

While media have widely reported on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, few have picked up on the significant Iranian connection to the conflict. Indeed, one cannot comprehend the events of recent weeks without an adequate understanding of Iran’s role in Gaza.

To begin, it should not be overlooked that many of the more than 1,000 missiles fired at Israelis in the past month were manufactured in Iran, transferred by Iran or built in Gaza with Iranian technology.

This includes, for example, the Iranian-built Fajr 5 and the made-in-Gaza M-75, both of which have a range of 75 kilometres. In 2012, Iran openly admitted to having given Hamas the technology to manufacture the M-75. These weapons have been a strategic game-changer for Hamas, allowing it to extend its range of attack to Israel’s two largest cities: Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The longer-range M-302, which enabled Hamas to hit cities in northern Israel, was reportedly imported from Syria via Iran.

Hamas has long depended on the Iranian-Syrian axis for arms, training and funding. These resources have had serious implications for Gaza since Israel left the territory entirely in 2005, a move that opened a window of opportunity for a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state-in-the-making to emerge. Hamas and Iran quickly moved in and closed that window, with tragic implications for the people of Gaza.

A 2007 Hamas coup within the Palestinian Authority enabled the group to seize control of Gaza and proceed to build a remarkably advanced infrastructure of terrorism. The territory is now replete with tunnels, bunkers and underground missile launch pads. In recent days, Hamas even launched its own drones over Israel.

None of this would be possible without extensive funding from Iran. At one point, the government of Egypt revealed that Iran was funnelling upwards of $300 million annually to Hamas.

Additional numbers are equally staggering. Prior to Israel’s current operation, terror groups in Gaza possessed an estimated 10,000 missiles. Hamas operatives, many of whom were trained in Iran, now also number at least 10,000. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is even closer to Iran than is Hamas, boasts several thousand fighters in Gaza. Analysts have noted that the two factions have been competing to see which one can fire missiles deeper into Israel.

Despite a falling-out between Hamas and the Iranian-Syrian axis when the group moved its headquarters out of Damascus in the wake of the Syrian civil war, co-operation in fighting the common enemy, Israel, has resumed. As former commander of British forces in Afghanistan and a seasoned analyst of terrorist groups, Col. Richard Kemp, told AFP: “Hamas were very badly damaged by the Israeli Defense Forces back in 2012, but since that time they have been re-equipped significantly by Iran and also by weapons from Syria.”

Every missile made in Iran and fired by Hamas threatens Israeli civilians and puts Palestinian lives at risk by requiring Israel to take countermeasures. On that note, the news that Hamas is openly calling the people of Gaza to serve as human shields is particularly nauseating.

Iran’s mentorship of Hamas in Gaza is modelled on its development of Hezbollah in Lebanon. In both cases, Iran seeks to advance the Islamic Revolution throughout the Middle East and support local groups willing to wage a proxy war with Israel. Unfortunately, those who pay the price for Iran’s destructive ventures are Israelis and innocent Palestinians alike.

As an Iranian-Canadian who has spent years raising awareness of human rights violations inside Iran, it grieves me that Tehran’s brutal agenda is now playing itself out in Israel and Gaza. Were it not for the Iranian regime’s extensive role in laying the foundation for the current war, the past few weeks may have been very different for Israelis and Palestinians. Those of us in the West who care about peace in the Middle East should recognize that Tehran’s fingerprints are all over the current round of violence.

This year the Anti-Semitic and hateful Al Quds rally, backed by the supporters of terrorist organization Hamas is scheduled to take place on Saturday July 26th at 2:00 p.m. on Queens Park.

Al Quds was founded by Khomeini also the founder of Islamic Regime in Iran, an Islamist dictator responsible for the rape, torture and execution of thousands of Iranian dissidents. The Regime he created still reigns terror on the people of Iran, supports terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah and is busy trying to acquire nuclear weapons.

Al Quds is an annual protest which aims to export the Islamic Revolution. Al Quds protestors (Khomeinists and Hamas supporters) call for the conquest of Israel and its replacement with an extremist Islamic State. Each year protestors raise the flag of Hezbollah a banned terrorist organization in Canada and hold up pictures of Khomeini the brutal Islamic dictator.

Canada is a country built on the principles of freedom, equality and respect for all. As Canadians we should be extremely concerned about Queens Park being used as a platform for hate speech and promotion of Islamic extremism!

To all groups, organizations and independent activists who oppose Islamic Extremism and support Canadian values:

ACTION:

1. Rally- Activists will gather for a rally against the Al Quds Hate Rally on Queens Park on July 26th 2014 @ 2:00 p.m.

4. Use Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about the counter-rally and call to action. Encourage others to get involved!
Say no to the promotion of Al Quds “Hate Rally” and Islamic Extrimism in Canada!

About This Writer

Sayeh Hassan is a criminal defense lawyer with Walter Fox & Associates and an Iranian Pro-Democracy activist. She is the author of the shiro-khorshid-forever blog (www.shiro-khorshid-forever.blogspot.com) which focuses on the pro-democracy movement and Regime Change in Iran. Through her pro-democracy activities she stays in close contact with activists in Iran as well as retaining contacts with various human rights and pro-democracy organizations abroad. She regularly speaks at conferences, has appeared on television and radio programs and her writing has been published by publications such as National Post, Toronto Star & Ottawa Citizen. She can be contacted at sayehhassan30@gmail.com